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The Hidden Time watch uses an optical illusion to trick you into focusing on the present

The Hidden Time watch uses an optical illusion to trick you into focusing on the present

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Smartwatches are all well and good, but sometimes the stress of notifications pinging and screens constantly lighting up is all a bit much. Sometimes it’s nice to just put on a regular watch and enjoy the fine craftsmanship and design of a mechanical device.

The Hidden Time Watch, from Anicorn Watches and industrial designer Jiwoong Jung, is one such watch. The standout feature is the “hidden time” design, where the face offers a gradient pattern that serves as the hour hand, which cleverly obscures the upcoming hours through a simple white-on-white optical illusion. The driving idea behind the vanishing numbers is that it allows you to simply focus on the task and time at hand instead of worrying about all the stressful things you need to get done later.

But beyond the high concept, the Hidden Time watch is simply a great-looking timepiece. The 39mm case is machined stainless steel in either black, rose gold, or silver, with a leather strap that attaches to the bottom of the case for a seamless look. The movement is a Swiss Ronda 515 quartz movement, which is a decent caliber that should keep good time. The only qualm is the face, which is currently a sapphire-coated mineral glass instead of proper sapphire glass. But the Kickstarter page notes that the company hopes to upgrade to an improved face as a stretch goal.

The Hidden Time watch is available to back on Kickstarter for HK$1,199 (roughly $154), and is expected to ship in October or November later this year. While crowdfunding is always a risk, Anicorn has run two successful watch campaigns of similar scope in the past, which makes this a safer bet than most. That said, always use your own best judgement when deciding to back.